- Adam Foote relieved as Canucks head coach after one season
- Assistants Scott Young, Kevin Dean and Brett McLean also let go
- Read below for Ryan Johnson’s first big move as Vancouver GM
Adam Foote is out in Vancouver.
The Canucks fired their head coach Tuesday morning after one season, also dismissing assistants Scott Young, Kevin Dean and Brett McLean. New general manager Ryan Johnson made the call. The 54-year-old Foote finished 25-49-8, dead last in the NHL by 14 points.
Johnson said in the team’s release that the move came despite the circumstances Foote inherited.
“We would like to thank Adam, Scott, Kevin, and Brett for all the work they did for us this season,” Johnson said. “It was a challenging year on several fronts and truthfully, Adam and his staff were dealt a very difficult hand.”
Vancouver’s new GM made clear the search starts now.
“As we head into a rebuild, our group feels new coaching voices are needed to chart the path forward,” Johnson said. “The process to bring in a new staff begins immediately.”
Here’s Johnson, Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin laying out the plan when they were introduced five days ago:
Foote was promoted from assistant last May after Rick Tocchet left for Philadelphia. He inherited a roster that came apart in a hurry.
Vancouver traded captain Quinn Hughes to Minnesota on December 12 for Liam Ohgren, Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium and a 2026 first-round pick. The Canucks went 14-32-5 the rest of the way.
The Canucks also flipped Kiefer Sherwood, Conor Garland and Tyler Myers for picks and prospects before the March 6 deadline. Vancouver averaged 2.56 goals per game and finished with a league-worst minus-100 goal differential. They were the first team eliminated from playoff contention, on March 22.
That makes Foote the seventh NHL head coach axed this season. Abbotsford bench boss Manny Malhotra is the early favorite to replace him, having captured a Calder Cup with Johnson last spring. Toronto is in the market too, so Vancouver may have to move fast if it wants him.
